Stand for flat-panel display

ABSTRACT

A stand for a display device, such as a flat-panel display, selectively accommodates mounting surfaces having disparate orientations with improved stability and durability, to facilitate viewing of the flat-panel display in either of at least two physical states of orientation as necessary or desired, specifically, with respect to both horizontal and vertical mounting surfaces. The stand includes a pivoting arm for receiving the display device, the pivoting arm including a locking member having at least two locking devices; a support arm for receiving a base; and a locking release coupled to the pivoting arm by a pivot pin and coupled to the support arm by a releasing pin for loading an elastic member, the locking release including a lever having an upper end for receiving the pivot pin and a lower end for receiving the releasing pin and compressing the elastic member, the upper end including a set of locking devices formed in correspondence to the at least two locking devices of the locking member to enable a selective engagement between one of the locking devices of the lever and one of the locking devices of the locking member.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/492,071, filed Jul. 25, 2006, which claims the benefit of KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2005-0069419, filed on Jul. 29, 2005, which ishereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stand structure, and moreparticularly, to a stand for supporting the display device of aflat-panel display. Although the present invention is suitable for awide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for a flat-paneldisplay enabling an adjustable configuration with respect to a desktopor wall mount environment.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Display devices, including flat-panel displays such as those fordisplaying video images and other data output, are viewable by a user(viewer) positioned is front of a screen. Though the user is mosttypically seated at a desk, viewing may be desirable under a variety ofcircumstances. For example, a flat-panel display may be arranged on asurface of another orientation, such as an interior wall of a room.Therefore, the flat-panel display should include a stand enabling morethan one viewing angle. That is, the stand may be adjustable and maypermit a range of movement of 90 degrees or more, to enable theflat-panel display to be placed on a desk (i.e., a horizontal surface)or be hung on a wall (i.e., a vertical surface).

Referring to FIG. 1, a contemporary stand for supporting a displaydevice, e.g., a flat-panel display, as described above is basicallycomprised of a pivoting arm 101 coupled to a support arm 102. Thepivoting arm 101 is configured to receive the display device to besupported and to transfer its weight to the support arm. For example,the pivoting arm 101 may enable a rotational coupling to a rear side ofthe display device, allowing a rotational movement of the display devicewith respect to the support arm 102. Meanwhile, the support arm 102 iscoupled at one end (e.g., an upper end) to the pivoting arm 101 and isconfigured at its other end (e.g., a lower end) to be fixed to a base(not shown), to thus support the display device at a predeterminedheight, or distance, with respect to the base.

The pivoting arm 101 comprises a support body 103, including at leastone first support link 103 a corresponding to the rear side of thedisplay device and at least one second support link 103 b connected atone end (e.g., a mounting end) to the first support link. A chamferedhole 103 bb is formed in the other end (e.g., a pivot end) of the secondsupport link 103 b to receive a pivot pin 105. A first boss 102 a forreceiving the pivot pin 105 is disposed at the upper end of the supportarm 102 and is arranged adjacent to the pivot end of the second supportlink 103 b. An annular device 104 having a set of locking recesses 104 aarranged around its perimeter and receiving the pivot pin 5 is providedon a side of the first boss 102 a of the support arm 102, to beinterposed between the first boss and the pivot end of the secondsupport link 103 b. A second boss 106 is fixed to an inner wall of thesupport arm 102 and securely receives a releasing pin 107. A retractablelever 108 is fixed at a lower end to the releasing pin 107, using asecuring clip 109, and has a tapered distal end 108 b for selectivelyengaging with one of the locking recesses 104 a. The retractable lever108 may be selectively inserted into a slotted opening 102 b, which isformed lengthwise in a sidewall of the support arm 102, to extendroughly from the releasing pin 107 to the annular device 104, andincludes at one end a seat 108 a for receiving the releasing pin.

Here, it should be appreciated that, with the support arm 102 assembledto the pivot arm 101, the base may be aligned with and then securelycoupled to the lower end of the support arm 102. Meanwhile, the firstsupport link 103 a of the pivot arm 101 may likewise be aligned with andthen securely coupled to the display device itself. Thus, the stand may,according to the orientation (arrangement) of the display device, bemanually adjusted to facilitate viewing.

For example, for viewing when the display device is arranged on adesktop or other mounting surface, the releasing pin 107 is pressed toenable the retractable lever 108 to slide outwardly along the length ofthe releasing pin and thus emerge from the slotted opening 102 b, tothereby disengage with the corresponding locking recess 104 a of theannular device 104, allowing a manual rotation of the support body 103of the pivoting arm 101 according to a desired viewing with respect tothe mounting surface. In doing so, the releasing pin 107 loads a spring(not shown) fitted to the releasing pin, between the second boss 106 andthe retractable lever 108. Once the desired viewing angle is obtainedmanually, the retractable lever 108 is reengaged with another lockingrecess 104 a of the annular device 104. A release of the releasing pin107 causes, under a restoring force of the spring, the retractable lever108 to retract into the slotted opening 102 b and thereby secure theengagement with the locking recess 104 a and the corresponding viewingangle. The same adjustment process may be followed for a display devicebeing moved from the desktop to a wall or back again.

According to the contemporary stand as described above, however, theretractable lever 108 is easily separated from the locking recess 104 aof the annular device 104, due to the nature of the tapered distal end108 b. Moreover, the weight of the display device is applied, via thepivoting arm 101, to the retractable lever 108 and is concentrated onthe tapered distal end 108 b, which is susceptible to fracturing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a stand for aflat-panel display that substantially obviates one or more problems dueto limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a stand for aflat-panel display, which selectively accommodates mounting surfaceshaving disparate orientations with improved stability and durability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stand for aflat-panel display, which facilitates use of the flat-panel display byenabling viewing of the flat-panel display in either of at least twophysical states of orientation as necessary or desired, specifically,with respect to both horizontal and vertical mounting surfaces.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stand for aflat-panel display, which prevents inadvertent disassembly ordisengagement of assembled components of the stand, specificallyincluding engaged elements of a retractable lever and a locking member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stand for aflat-panel display, which prevents fracturing of components of a supportarm, specifically including an engaged element of a retractable lever.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein,there is provided a stand for a display device such as a flat-paneldisplay. The stand comprises a pivoting arm for receiving the displaydevice, the pivoting arm including a locking member having at least twolocking devices; a support arm for receiving a base; and a lockingrelease coupled to the pivoting arm by a pivot pin and coupled to thesupport arm by a releasing pin for loading an elastic member, thelocking release including a lever having an upper end for receiving thepivot pin and a lower end for receiving the releasing pin andcompressing the elastic member, the upper end including a set of lockingdevices formed in correspondence to the at least two locking devices ofthe locking member to enable a selective engagement between one of thelocking devices of the lever and one of the locking devices of thelocking member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda flat-panel display including a stand for supporting a display device.The stand comprises a pivoting arm including: at least one support bodyhaving a first support link and a second support link, the first supportlink coupled to the display device and the second support link beingfixed to the first support link; a locking member having at least twolocking devices; and a pivot pin passed through the locking member to befitted into the second support link; a support arm including: a supportcolumn having a first boss for receiving the pivot pin; and a sidewallprovided to at least one side of the support column and having anopening; a locking release including: a second boss disposed inopposition to the opening of the sidewall; a releasing pin received bythe second boss to enable a movement within the second boss at apredetermined stroke; an elastic member having one end elasticallysupported by the second boss; and a lever having an upper end forreceiving the pivot pin and a lower end for receiving the releasing pinand compressing the elastic member, the upper end including a set oflocking devices formed in correspondence to the at least two lockingdevices of the locking member to enable a selective engagement betweenone of the locking devices of the lever and one of the locking devicesof the locking member; and a base coupled to a lower end surface of atleast one of the support column and the sidewall.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a stand for a flat-panel displayaccording to a related art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of a stand for a flat-panel displayaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective diagram of the stand of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram of a stand for a flat-panel displayaccording to the present invention, showing the stand fixed to a base;

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of a stand for a flat-panel displayaccording to the present invention, showing the stand configured toenable the flat-panel display to be placed on a horizontal surface,e.g., a desktop; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective diagram of a stand for a flat-paneldisplay according to the present invention, showing the stand configuredto enable the flat-panel display to be hung on a vertical surface, e.g.,a wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, like reference designations will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a stand for a flat-panel display accordingto the present invention includes a pivoting arm 11, a support arm 12,and a locking release 15. In an exemplary embodiment, a base 16 isprovided to the support arm 12 as shown in FIGS. 4-6.

The pivoting arm 11 includes at least one support body 3 having a firstsupport link 3 a to enable coupling to a rear-side assembly surface (notshown) of a display device and a second support link 3 b integrallyformed with one side of the first support link, a locking member 10provided adjacent to the second support link 3 b, and a pivot pin 5passing through the locking member to be fitted to the second supportlink. According to the present invention, the locking member 10 includesat least two locking recesses 10 a formed in a perimeter of the lockingmember, which may be integrally formed with the second support link 3 bor may be provided as a discrete component subsequently fixed to thesecond support link. In the event that the locking member 10 is providedseparate from the second support link 3 b, a though-hole 10 b iscentrally formed in the locking member 10.

The support arm 12 includes a support column 12 b having a first boss 12a for receiving the pivot pin 5 and a sidewall 12 c in which a slottedopening 12 cc is formed to be oriented substantially lengthwise. Thesidewall 12 c is provided to at least one side of the support column 12b.

The locking release 15 includes a second boss 6 disposed in oppositionto one end of the slotted opening 12 cc, a releasing pin 7 fitted into ahole (not shown) formed in the second boss to enable a movement of thereleasing pin within the hole at a predetermined stroke while projectingoutwardly from a side surface of the sidewall 12 c, an elastic member 13fitted over an outer circumference of the releasing pin, and aretractable lever 14 having at its upper end an annular engagementdevice 14 a for receiving the pivot pin 5 and a lower end for receivingthe releasing pin 7 and compressing the elastic member 13. Thus, theslotted opening 12 cc is formed in the sidewall 12 c, from a lower pointcorresponding to the releasing pin 7 to an upper point corresponding tothe annular engagement device 14 a of the retractable lever 14, andincludes at the lower end a seat for receiving the releasing pin.

According to the present invention, the annular engagement device 14 aincludes a set of locking nodules 14 aa arranged on a perimeter of theannular engagement device in correspondence to the locking recesses 10 aof the locking member 10, each locking nodule enabling a selectiveengagement with at least one of the at least two locking recesses andthe retractable lever 14 having at least one portion accommodated in theslotted opening 12 cc. Here, it should be appreciated that the lockingmember 10 may be provided with nodules for engaging with recesses formedin the annular engagement device 14 a. In either case, there is anincrease in the contacting surface area between the engaging elements ofthe locking devices (nodules or recesses) of the locking release 15according to the present invention as compared to contemporary stands,so that fracturing may be prevented and so that stability is enhanced.

The elastic member 13 of the locking release 15 may include a coilspring as shown in the drawings, or may be realized as a plate spring.Such a plate spring may be variously configured provided that the platespring be elastically supported by the second boss 6 at one end and by acorrespondent portion of the retractable lever 14 at the other end. Forexample, the elastic member 13 may be embodied as a substantiallyC-shaped plate spring or as a plate spring made of a series of curves(ripples). Meanwhile, the second boss 6 of the locking release 15 may besubstantially semi-cylindrical or rectangular in shape and may beintegrally formed with the support arm 12 or may be provided as adiscrete component subsequently fixed to the support arm.

A securing clip 9, in the form of a C-type or E-type annular fastener,may be fitted into a groove (not shown) formed in at least one side ofthe releasing pin 7, which is secured after fitting to the lower end ofthe retractable lever 14 and projects outwardly from a side surface ofthe sidewall 12 c. Similar fasteners (not shown) may be provided forsecuring the pivot pin 5 within the first boss 12 a, for securing thepivot pin 5 within the second boss 6, or for securing the locking member10 to the second support link 3 b.

To assembly the stand for a flat-panel display according to the presentinvention, after the pivot pin 5 and the releasing pin 7 are fitted intothe first and second bosses 12 a and 6, respectively, one end of eachpin is secured with a corresponding clip (not shown). The elastic member13 is then fitted over the releasing pin 7. Exposed ends of each of thepivot pin 5 and the releasing pin 7 are fitted to opposite ends of theretractable lever 14. For example, the pivot pin 5 is passed through theannular engagement device 14 a, while the releasing pin 7 is passedthough a fitted opening formed in the lower end of the retractable lever14. Once so engaged with the respective pins, the retractable lever 14is pushed into the slotted opening 12 cc of the sidewall of the supportarm 12 and is thereafter secured by fitting the securing clip 9 to theexposed end of the releasing pin 7. In the event that the locking member10 is provided separate from the second support link 3 b, thethough-hole 10 b of the locking member 10 is aligned with the chamferedhole 3 bb of the second support link 3 b of the pivoting arm 11, andthen the locking member is fixed to the second support link. Anothersecuring clip (not shown) may be used to secure the pivot pin in thesecond support link 3 b including the locking member 10.

For protecting the inner assembly as above and more specifically toprotect the locking release 15, a pair of aesthetic outer covers 17 maybe fitted as shown in FIG. 4, to be respectively disposed on either(e.g., forward and rearward) side of the support arm 12. Though notspecifically shown in the drawings, a fixing structure may be providedto one or both of the aesthetic outer covers 17 or to an underlyingcomponent of the support arm 12.

Finally, the display device 18 is positioned in front of the supportbody 3 of the pivoting arm 11, specifically aligning with mounting holesformed in the first support link 3 a, which is then coupled to therear-side assembly surface of the display device. Before being able touse the display device 18, the base 16 is arranged under, and thencoupled to, the lower end of the support arm 12. Here, it should benoted that assembly of the base 16 to the support arm 12 is preferablyperformed before coupling the display device 18 to the pivoting arm 11,but it should also be appreciated that the present invention may utilizeas a base some other mounting surface, for example, a wall or similarlypermanent structure.

To manipulate the stand of the present invention and thereby to enableselective use of the fully assembled flat-panel display according to adesired viewing orientation, the base 16 may be placed on a desktop orhung (mounted) on a wall. A desktop configuration is shown in FIG. 5,and a wall-mounted configuration is shown in FIG. 6.

To adjust between desktop and wall-mounted configurations, the releasingpin 7 is first pressed inwardly, i.e., toward the side surface of thesidewall 12 c, to cause the engaged locking nodule 14 aa of the annularengagement device 14 a of the retractable lever 14, which isinteroperating with the releasing pin 7, to be separated (disengaged)from the corresponding locking recess 10 a of the locking member 10adjacent the second support link 3 b of the pivoting arm 11.Subsequently, namely, after manually rotating the display device 18 withrespect to the base 16 to be substantially parallel (FIG. 5) orsubstantially perpendicular (FIG. 6) to the support arm 12, thereleasing pin 7 is released (depressed) so that the retractable lever 14returns to its original position to thereby cause the correspondinglocking nodule 14 aa to engage with the desired locking recess 10. Aftersecured engagement as above, a tilt or viewing angle of the displaydevice 18 can be conveniently adjusted, within a predetermined range,using the releasing pin 7 to vary the locking nodule 14 aa correspondingto the locking recess 10 a.

By adopting the present invention, mounting surfaces can be selectivelyaccommodated with improved stability and durability for facilitated useof a flat-panel display having a stand according to the presentinvention, by enabling viewing of the flat-panel display in either oftwo physical states of orientation as necessary or desired, namely, withrespect to a horizontal surface, e.g., placement on a table top, andwith respect to a vertical surface, e.g., hanging on a wall. Unlessthere is a conscious effort by the user to perform a completedisassembly of the related components, it is difficult to physicallyseparate the locking device of the retractable lever of the support armfrom the locking device of the second support link of the pivoting arm,even during an adjustment of the viewing angle of the display devicewith respect to the support arm of the stand. Even though, intransferring the weight of the display device to the support arm via thepivoting arm, the weight may become concentrated on the locking means ofthe retractable lever, the present invention prevents the locking devicefrom fracturing.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications can be made in the present invention without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that thepresent invention covers such modifications provided they come withinthe scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A stand for a display device, the stand comprising: a pivoting armcoupled to the display device; a support arm coupled to a base; and alever having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end detachablycoupled to the pivoting arm and the lower end coupled to the supportarm.
 2. The stand of claim 1, the upper end of the lever receiving apivot pin for rotatably coupling the lever with the pivoting arm, andthe lower end of the lever receiving a releasing pin for coupling thelever with the support arm.
 3. The stand of claim 1, wherein an elasticmember is provided to the releasing pin, and the lower end of the leveris supported by the elastic member.
 4. The stand of claim 2, wherein theupper end of the lever comprises an annular engagement device penetratedby the pivot pin fixed to the support arm and coupled with the pivotingarm.
 5. The stand of claim 4, the annular engagement device of the leverhaving one of locking protrusions and locking recesses, and the pivotingarm having the other.
 6. The stand of claim 5, wherein a locking memberis provided to the pivoting arm, the locking protrusions or lockingrecesses being provided to the locking member.
 7. The stand of claim 6,wherein the locking recesses are formed at a boundary of the lockingmember or the annular engagement device.
 8. The stand of claim 6,wherein the support arm includes a support column having a boss forreceiving the pivot pin, and a sidewall in which a slotted opening isformed to be oriented substantially lengthwise, and wherein a secondboss is provided at one end of the slotted opening for receiving thereleasing pin.
 9. The stand of claim 8, wherein the lever has at leastone portion accommodated in the slotted opening.
 10. The stand of claim9, wherein the lower end of the lever is accommodated in the slottedopening and the locking member is separated with the annular engagementdevice in the event that the lever is pushed by pressing the releasingpin.